Business bank account FAQs & important information

You can apply if you’re aged 18 or over and your business is registered and based in the UK. Some business types or industries may require additional checks but we'll let you know.

You’ll usually need proof of identity, proof of address, business details and (for limited companies) your Companies House number.

Full list of acceptable documents

You’ll need the following details for each director or owner:

• Photo ID (driving licence, passport or EU ID card)
• Proof of address
• Business details including legal name, trading address and nature of business
• Companies House information, if relevant

As part of the application, we’ll use our trusted identity‑verification partner Mitek. They’ll check your ID and ask you to upload a selfie or short video using your phone or webcam. It’s quick, secure, and Mitek deletes your documents once the check is complete.

Mitek may ask for:

• Photo ID to confirm your identity
• A selfie or short video to match your photo ID
• Proof of address such as a utility bill, bank statement, tax document or driving licence

Make sure the details on your documents match the information you enter in your application.

What is Mitek?

You can start online.

1. Once you’ve submitted your application, we'll email you to confirm we've received it.
2. We'll contact you by phone or email if we need any more information. We won't be able to progress your application until you send us the missing information.
3. If there's more than one party named on the application, you'll be asked to complete a mandate. You may also be asked to complete a tax declaration and acknowledge Business term accounts.
4. Once we’ve opened your account, we’ll send you an email with the account details. Your debit card and Online Banking details will arrive shortly after.
   
   If we’re unable to progress your application for any reason, we will let you know by email.

We may need additional information for complex ownership structures, certain industries, or where we’re unable to verify details digitally.

To prevent delays -

• Give us a detailed description of your business in your application.
• If you’re a start-up, provide a realistic estimate on your turnover.  We know this can be challenging, so your best estimate is fine.
• Provide clear and detailed information throughout the application. Try your best not to leave gaps - especially in the trading activity section.
• Make sure any additional partners linked to the account return the required documents as fast as possible.
• Be ready to send any further information we may ask for as soon as you can. We may contact you via email or phone after you’ve submitted your application.
• You'll need to verify your identity with the help of onscreen prompts within Mitek. Mitek is our trusted online identification and security partner. This will help to give you more clarity about which documents you should provide.
• Use the application hub to check for updates.

• Incorrect or expired documents.
• Providing incomplete or limited information when asked about your business.
• Poor credit score.
• Dishonesty and fraud.
• Being linked with certain business types or countries.

Yes. The Current Account Switch Service makes moving your business bank account to NatWest easy.

To find out about switching, check out the Current Account Switch Service.

You can send and receive international payments using your NatWest business account. Fees, delivery times and supported currencies vary by destination and account type.

Learn more about international payments

You can add or remove authorised users and set different levels of access, including view‑only or full payment permissions. Depending on your business type, we may need details of all Persons of Significant Control (PSCs).

Having a separate business bank account is highly recommended for managing your business finances effectively. It helps keep your personal and business transactions separate, simplifies tax returns, builds business credit, and often provides higher transaction limits. Read more in our why do I need a business bank account guide. 

The best business bank account depends on your specific needs and business stage.  Learn which is the best account for you in our types of business bank accounts guide.

Most UK business current accounts can be switched to NatWest using the Current Account Switch Service (CASS). If you’re switching everything (full switch), your payments are moved automatically and the switch completes in 7 working days under the Guarantee. You’ll need to meet our standard account eligibility checks and be able to provide the required documents.

Start your switch → Switch your business bank account

Are there any exclusions or cases where I can’t switch?

Yes. You typically can’t use CASS to switch if:

• you’re trying to switch within the same banking group (e.g. from Royal Bank of Scotland or Ulster Bank to NatWest)
• your existing account isn’t a UK business current account or the provider doesn’t participate in CASS
• you want a partial switch (CASS is for full switches only)
• the account is in arrears, under legal restriction, or signatory details can’t be verified

Offer eligibility: If there’s a switch offer, it’s usually for businesses under a specific turnover threshold and requires a full CASS switch to NatWest. Group‑to‑group switches (e.g. RBS/Ulster Bank → NatWest) are not eligible for the offer.

Full terms apply.

See switching details → Business account switching and CASS

Read offer terms → Switch offer eligibility & exclusions  (PDF, 2.3 MB)

We help protect your business with 24/7 monitoring, the latest security technology, and payment checks when something looks unusual. Our Secure Banking Promise means we’ll refund money paid out of your account by a fraudster, as long as you’ve kept your security information safe. We’ll also help you protect yourself with practical tips and free tools.

What you can do

• Never share passcodes, One‑Time Passcodes or Card Reader codes
• Keep antivirus and firewall software up to date
• Verify payees before sending money; challenge urgent or unexpected requests
• Use strong, unique passwords and enable biometrics where available

If you think you’ve been scammed: contact us immediately (use the app or the number on your card). You can freeze your card/stop a payment in the app, then report to Action Fraud (England & Wales) or Police Scotland.

Learn more:

• Business security hub 
• Secure Banking Promise 
• Report fraud 

We offer a range of support to help you do your everyday banking in a way that works best for you. Through Banking My Way, you can tell us about any accessibility needs or adjustments you’d find helpful, and we’ll make sure this information is added to your profile so our teams can support you. We also provide accessible formats, extra help in branch, and tools in the mobile app and Online Banking to make managing your account easier.v

If you’re unhappy with our service, you can make a complaint online or through our Support Centre. The quickest way is to use our online complaint form, where you can tell us what’s happened and how you’d like us to put it right. You can also complain by phone, in branch, by post or using Relay UK if you prefer. We’ll investigate your complaint and keep you updated throughout the process.

Helpful links:

• Make a complaint online 
• Visit the Support Centre